2008 Season Preview: Glamorgan

[b]2007 in a nutshell[/b]

Dreadful

The bottom county in all 4 tables (only Ireland â€" on run rate â€" kept us off the bottom of FPT South), with just one Championship win and one 20/20 win to brighten a dismal summer blighted by a poorly resourced squad, an underperforming overseas player (Jimmy Maher), and a county ground resembling a building site.

[b]2008 prospects[/b]

Better.

The prodigal son, Matthew Maynard, returns as Cricket Manager and has a bigger budget due to a stronger trading position (the club has just returned its first profit since 1999 and money is starting to flow in arising from the new ground development).
Out go journeymen Andrew Davies, Dan Cherry, Nicky Peng and Adam Harrison, together with the crocked Simon Jones, who received a more ‘secure’ financial offer from Worcestershire.
In come Jamie Dalrymple (Middlesex), Adam Shantry (Warwickshire) and Matthew Wood (Yorkshire), plus Jason Gillespie as the overseas player, although his registration with the ECB is in severe doubt due to his participation in the ICL naughty boys league.
[b]Batting[/b]
Wood is a useful acquisition as opener, but the top order generally looks a little thin. Gareth Rees will need to build on his 2 centuries of last season, and the skipper, David Hemp, will need to pull his weight. The return of Mike Powell is a boost. The signing of Matthew Elliott as a non-overseas player did not materialize.
[b]Bowling[/b]
Plentiful in numbers.
David Harrison returns after a year sidelined, wonderkid James Harris faces the ‘difficult 2nd season’, and Alex Wharf will continue to contribute with bat and ball.
Left arm seamer Shantry will have to fight it out with the likes of Huw Waters and Ryan Watkins for a place.
Dalrymple is a cute acquisition and is being primed for captaincy as well as being Robert Croft’s successor with the ball (Croft may not feature in too much white ball cricket).
Should Jason Gillespie be banned, you can’t help but wonder if an overseas batsman would lead to a better balanced squad?
[b]Probable side[/b]
Championship
Matthew Wood
Gareth Rees
David Hemp (Capt)
Mike Powell
Ben Wright
Jamie Dalrymple
Mark Wallace (Wk)
Robert Croft
Alex Wharf
Jason Gillespie
David Harrison

Pressing for places
James Harris (post A levels), Huw Waters, Dean Cosker, Adam Shantry, Tom Maynard

Squad members
Ryan Watkins, Mike O’Shea, Richard Grant
One day and Twenty20
Matthew Wood
David Hemp (Capt)
Mike Powell
Ben Wright
Jamie Dalrymple
Tom Maynard
Mark Wallace (WK)
Ryan Watkins / Dean Cosker
Alex Wharf
Jason Gillespie (20/20 Shahid Afridi?)
David Harrison

[b]Key Man â€" Mike Powell[/b]
So easy to pick Crofty or even James Harris, my star man for the year is hard hitting #4 bat Mike Powell.

At death’s door in intensive care last June following a blood clot, the lad is almost grateful to just be alive, but make no mistake this is an exceptionally determined and gifted batsman, who can be the foundation of the big scores Glamorgan will need in order to rise up the tables.
[b]Rising Star â€" Tom Maynard[/b][b]
[/b]Again, too easy to select Harris, so I’m plumping for the manager’s son, Tom Maynard.

Having shown several glimpses of Matthew’s cavalier stroke play so familiar to county watchers, this may well be Tom’s breakthrough year in the middle order.
[b]Captain and Coach[/b][b]
[/b]On the face of it, there’s no change.

Adrian Shaw is still 1st team coach, and Hemp is skipper, but the appointment of Maynard leaves no one in any doubt who’s boss. Indeed, Hemp’s retention as captain in his Benefit Year may largely be due to there being no viable alternative at present.

If Glamorgan’s fortunes do not noticeably improve, expect change.
[b]Prediction and aspiration
[/b]
Mid table mediocrity would be very welcome (and give us long suffering supporters a nosebleed).

More realistically, avoiding the respective wooden spoons and restoring pride and competitiveness in our on field displays would be something commendable after the last shameful three seasons.